Arlington, Virginia was recently named the “Best City for Recent Grads” by NerdWallet, an organization who, according to their website, focuses on “providing information, insight and consumer-driven advice about personal finance.”(1)

NerdWallet analyzed 100 of the largest cities in the U.S. while searching for best environments for new college graduates. Data was gathered from the U.S. Census Bureau as well as the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Why Arlington?

Arlington was chosen given the fact that over 67% of the workforce have found jobs in business, management, science or the arts – all of which generally require a bachelor’s degree or higher. In addition, the city chosen needed to have a favorable ratio of income to rent and since Arlington (and neighboring Washington, D.C.) have a higher median in earnings, residents can live comfortably without going broke.

The report stated that in Arlington, over 71% of the 25+ population possess at least a bachelor’s degree, with the closest city to that percentage being Irvine, California with 67.7%. The Metropolitan Unemployment Rate for December 2015 was also low compared to many others at 3.8%. Out of the 100 cities surveyed by NerdWallet, Arlington had the highest median earnings at $72,406 for residents 25+ who hold a bachelor’s degree.

Washington, D.C. is also noteworthy, placing third overall in the survey. The top 10 cities were:

1. Arlington, Virginia
2. Madison, Wisconsin
3. Washington, D.C.
4. Boston, Massachusetts
5. Minneapolis, Tennessee
6. Seattle, Washington
7. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
8. Austin, Texas
9. Atlanta, Georgia
10. San Franciso, California

Find the full list with all 100 cities as well as the details on NerdWallet’s website here.

While much of this information may not come as a surprise to the local Arlington community, it is an interesting statistic for recent college graduates to consider when searching for the best places to start their careers. At The Shooshan Company, we are always welcome to any information or research that sheds light on our great community.

Sources:

1. Best Cities for Recent Grads 2016. (2016). NerdWallet. Source: https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/cities/best-cities-for-recent-grads-2016/